[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 174: Time (4)

Just as Odin was about to step into the procedure room—

“Stop.”

A voice called out from behind. It sounded so weary, it was as if the speaker might stop breathing at any moment.

Even so, the moment Odin heard that voice, he froze in place like he’d been turned to stone.

With a face as cold and hard as steel, Odin turned around. At the bottom of the stairs leading to the procedure room, Kwon Mi stood against the wall, bracing herself with one hand.

“…Strange.”

Odin stared at her and muttered.

“After cursing you that heavily… you should be dead by now. And yet here you are, conscious?”

“That place… isn’t one a filthy bastard like you should be stepping into.”

Kwon Mi forced out each syllable. Anyone could see how far she was pushing herself beyond her limits.

“Wow, you're still insufferable to the very end. Typical of you damn Hyukcheon bastards.”

Odin sneered, disgust twisting his face.

“Keep running your mouth like that, and I might just rip you apart with my own hands. Got it?”

He jabbed a finger at her wildly. His attitude showed he didn’t even consider Kwon Mi a threat anymore.

And understandably so. The curse afflicting Kwon Mi wasn’t an ordinary one.

It was something Odin and Aeon had spent years researching—crafted specifically to counteract the Black Dragon’s Bloodline, a power unique to the Hyukcheon.

It was called The Serpent That Slays.

Even the patriarch of Babel had been reduced to a mere mortal in its presence.

“So shut your mouth. I couldn’t care less whether you live or die…”

Kwon Mi took a deep breath… and then exhaled.

In that moment, an explosive surge of power erupted from her. Odin’s expression hardened.

“…What the hell is this?”

Even Odin was momentarily speechless. The power she unleashed was beyond anything someone under that curse should’ve been capable of.

It was absurd.

The Serpent That Slays was less a curse than a living entity. Overcoming it was deemed impossible.

“…Don’t tell me.”

A theory surfaced in Odin’s mind.

“You planning to kill me before your strength runs out?”

The curse was actively devouring Kwon Mi’s strength. But it hadn’t taken all of it—yet.

She had squeezed every last drop of power she had left and pushed herself into overdrive.

In theory, it was possible.

But Odin had never once imagined anyone would be insane enough to try it.

The process of being drained by the curse was excruciating. Using magic while cursed only accelerated that torment—amplifying both physical and spiritual agony.

It wasn't something that could be endured, let alone mastered.

“This monster of a bitch…”

Odin recoiled in shock and summoned a mass of cursed energy, which wrapped around his body like armor.

All signs of smugness or amusement vanished. That’s how dangerous Kwon Mi had become.

If not for the curse, Odin wouldn’t have dared to challenge her.

“Haah!”

With a scream that bordered on a roar, Kwon Mi lunged. Her fists, infused with dragon aura, tore through the air.

Odin countered with a wall of curses, but her blows shattered it like paper.

“…Ha!”

He let out a laugh—more incredulous than amused.

In addition to The Serpent That Slays, countless other curses were eating away at her body.

And yet… she still hit with that much power.

“This is why I hate those Hyukcheon bastards!”

Odin howled and launched more curses at her. The two clashed without pause.

But the end came sooner than expected.

As the fight dragged on, Kwon Mi’s strength noticeably waned.

The curse was accelerating, draining her faster.

“What’s the matter? You came at me all fierce a moment ago!” Odin sneered, pushing her back.

He was overwhelming a Hunter far stronger than himself.

What could be more satisfying?

“Tell me—why are you risking your life like this? Is it that damned pride of the Hyukcheon? Or your own damn ego?”

Kwon Mi didn’t answer. She couldn’t spare the strength.

“Or is it because of Kwon Hanul?”

Her eyes flickered—just for a second. Odin caught the subtle change.

“Hah! Would you look at that! So you actually care about Kwon Hanul that much!”

Kwon Mi clenched her teeth, whipping her body into motion to try and land a decisive blow.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten—Kwon Hanul is your son’s rival. As long as he’s alive, your boy’s chances at the Hyukcheon’ throne drop to zero! And yet you’re still protecting him?”

At this rate, she couldn’t win.

Kwon Mi gathered the last of her Dragon Aura into a single, condensed strike.

She intended to unleash it all in one blow.

“Is it because you miss your dead brother that much?”

But the moment Odin’s voice reached her ears, her focus shattered.

She lost control of her energy.

It burst free, uncontrolled.

Odin didn’t miss the opening. He shaped his curse into a spear and drove it straight through her chest.

“Gghk…”

Blood poured from Kwon Mi’s mouth as she collapsed.

Odin looked down on her with scorn.

“Stupid bitch.”

Odin retrieved every last scrap of the cursed energy.

Then, at last, he stepped inside the procedure room.

“It's an honor to meet you.”

A young-looking woman greeted him with a deep bow.

Her overly courteous demeanor drew a pleased smirk from Odin.

“Someone who understands respect. You're Takamine Ryoko, right?”

“I didn’t expect a Pandemonium Councilman to know my name,” Ryoko responded with calm composure.

It wasn’t an act. She genuinely wasn’t afraid.

That intrigued Odin.

“You’re not scared of me?”

“I am.”

“Then why are you so calm? It’s honestly kind of annoying.”

“I figured staying composed and greeting you properly would improve my odds of survival more than screaming in fear.”

“…Oh?”

Odin raised an eyebrow, impressed.

“A good answer. I like you.”

Some people have an uncanny talent for reading others. Clearly, she was one of them.

“Since you’ve made such a good impression, I’ll let you walk out of here in one piece.”

He stepped aside slightly, signaling her to leave.

“Thank you. But before I go, I’d like to offer a word of advice—if you’ll allow it.”

“Advice?”

“Yes, with your permission.”

“…Fine. Speak.”

Ryoko nodded, then pointed toward a glass window.

Beyond it, a stone coffin lay—with Kwon Hanul resting inside.

“Your goal is Kwon Hanul, correct? But if you remove him from the coffin now, he’ll die.”

She took a breath, then continued.

“You might think I’m stalling or scheming. But if you heard what drugs he took before the procedure—”

“Don’t care.”

Ryoko blinked.

“…Excuse me?”

“I said I don’t care. Whether he lives or dies.”

Odin shrugged.

“I’m not after Kwon Hanul. I’m after something inside him. If he dies, it makes my job easier. I can just take what I need and go.”

“But the Hyukcheon clan won’t stand for that.”

Odin’s face darkened slightly, irritation rising—but not enough to lash out.

“That’s not your concern.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Watch your mouth. Keep pushing it and I might kill you. I doubt you want to see your body rot while you’re still alive.”

Ryoko quickly bowed in apology. Her submissive posture soothed Odin’s temper.

“Now get out of here. What happens next doesn’t concern you.”

“You’re going in there now?”

Odin’s irritation flared again. Why wasn’t she leaving?

“There’s a mess of electronics in there. If you touch them carelessly, it could short-circuit and cause an explosion—”

Odin’s eyes narrowed. He glanced past her—to a monitor behind her, partially hidden by her body.

He stepped aside and looked.

“…Remaining time: 50 minutes?”

In an instant, he grabbed Ryoko by the throat and lifted her off the ground.

She choked, gasping.

“You cunning little bitch—trying to stall me until the procedure’s over?”

“Kk—!”

“You really thought you could buy time? Unbelievable.”

He hurled her to the ground. She hit hard, shoulder-first.

“Looks like you’re not too attached to your life.”

“A doctor… doesn’t abandon… their patient…”

Ryoko coughed violently as she spoke. Odin let out a dry laugh.

“Don’t think you’ll get an easy death. I’ll hand you over to the most depraved freak I brought along.”

Without another glance at her, he strode forward.

“Stop!” Ryoko shouted desperately.

Odin snapped his fingers. A cursed projectile burst from the shadows and struck her.

The moment it touched her, Ryoko’s body began to decay—her skin turning black with necrosis.

Even so, she didn’t look away from Odin. Her eyes weren’t filled with fear of death—only regret.

“…At last, we meet.”

Standing before the door to the chamber where the stone coffin lay, Odin whispered as if overwhelmed by emotion.

He still remembered the despair of losing the Vessel.

To possess the key that could unravel the world’s secrets—and then to lose it again—was a torment like no other.

But that pain was over. The Vessel was his again.

Odin gripped the door with both hands and wrenched it open with such force that it tore from its hinges. He tossed it aside and stepped inside.

“Wait… what?”

He froze in disbelief.

Just moments ago, the coffin had been sealed shut.

Now, it was wide open.

And beside it stood Kwon Hanul—upright, his back to Odin.

* * *

Lee Da-hae was dragged into the interrogation room, detained by the Hunters of Hyukcheon.

Bloodstains were smeared across the floor.

Strange equipment whose purpose was unclear cluttered the room.

Da-hae glanced around with fearful eyes when—

Clunk. The door creaked open, and someone stepped inside.

“It’s been a while.”

It was Kwon Hyuk.

Da-hae stared at him in shock—her expression asked: Why are you here?

“I volunteered to serve as the investigator for this act of treason,” he answered, seemingly catching her unspoken question.

“What is going on? Lord Kwon Cheon, accused of treason?”

“Three days ago, the Chairman went abroad on a business trip. The hotel he was staying at was attacked by terrorists.”

Da-hae’s brows furrowed. Her expression said it all—No way…

“Of course, the Chairman is unharmed. The terrorists didn’t even get a glimpse of him. They were all captured. But one of them claimed that Kwon Cheon was behind it.”

“That’s a lie!”

Without hesitation, Da-hae shouted.

“Lord Kwon Cheon would never do that! He respects the Chairman more than anyone! There’s no way he’d betray him!”

She screamed desperately, turning to Kwon Hyuk.

“Please, investigate again! The terrorists are lying!”

“I know.”

Hyuk’s response was blunt. Da-hae was stunned into silence.

“…What?”

“Kwon Cheon isn’t guilty. I’m well aware of that.”

“Then why… why am I here?”

“Why do you think I brought you in?”

Hyuk leaned back in his chair. A sneer spread across his face.

“You have no idea how furious the Chairman is. I mean, anyone would be—wouldn’t you be pissed if your beloved pet bit you?”

Something felt off.

Da-hae sensed it instinctively.

“Even the most rational person would snap in a situation like this. I thought the Chairman would order Kwon Cheon’s execution on the spot… But to my surprise, he hesitated.”

Hyuk’s words, his actions, the entire atmosphere—it was all wrong.

“I wasn’t thrilled about that. But fortunately, I had prepared for this possibility.”

“…What are you talking about, Lord Hyuk?”

“You’re Kwon Cheon’s lover, aren’t you?”

Da-hae felt the blood drain from her face.

She had tried so hard to hide it, terrified of anyone finding out—yet here he was, saying it aloud.

“I don’t know why someone like him would get involved with a lowborn girl like you whose background can’t even be traced… but for me, this worked out perfectly.”

Hyuk approached her and patted her shoulder lightly.

“When a man’s woman is in danger, he loses his mind. Especially with someone like Kwon Cheon.”

Da-hae felt light-headed. Her stomach churned.

“If Kwon Cheon, under suspicion of treason, goes berserk trying to save you, what do you think will happen?”

She glared at Kwon Hyuk.

He let out a dry laugh under her fierce gaze.

“Even the Chairman will find that hard to forgive.”

Da-hae stared at him, her face hardened.

“Why… Why are you doing this?”

“That’s a question I don’t feel like answering. You just sit there quietly.”

Just then, the interrogation room door opened again, and another man entered.

The moment she saw his face, Da-hae flinched violently. A wave of terror crashed over her.

“Da-hae!”

A mage of Aeon.

The very man who had implanted a vessel inside her and tried to perform strange experiments now stood before her.

“I finally found you!”

The mage rushed to her, grabbing her hands. But unlike him, Da-hae showed no joy at the reunion.

“Wh-What are you doing here…?”

“Why do you think? Because of you.”

The mage beamed.

“We couldn’t bring you back with Aeon’s power alone. So, I decided to team up with him.”

The mage gestured toward Kwon Hyuk, who yawned, uninterested.

“Aeon will help Lord Hyuk, and in return, he promised to give you back to us!”

* * *

In the darkness, Kwon Cheon opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was a black iron cage.

A prison built on the outskirts of the Hyukcheon clan’s territory—constructed to hold members of their bloodline, who were far stronger than ordinary Hunters. Its fortifications and security were impeccable.

“…I hope Da-hae is okay,” Kwon Cheon muttered, worry etched across his face. He wanted to rush to her side—but he couldn’t.

Heavy shackles and chains bound his limbs.

The chains suspending his arms from the ceiling weren’t ordinary—they were forged from melted relics. Not even he could break them.

Just then, the door to the prison opened. A shaft of light briefly lit the cell.

Someone approached the bars.

“Hey, your big bro’s here.”

Bae Cheol-su stood outside the cage, looking in.

Kwon Cheon’s eyes widened.

“Hyung? How did you get in here…?”

“Come on, I’m still the heir of the Bae family. Threw the family name around a little.”

Cheol-su said it like it was nothing. But Kwon Cheon knew better.

The Bae clan of Healthy Bloodline, though allied on the surface, was essentially subordinate to Hyukcheon. Even as heir, what Cheol-su did now was reckless.

Kwon Cheon was imprisoned on treason charges, after all.

“I figured you’d be hungry, so I brought food…”

Cheol-su frowned, eyeing the chains suspending Kwon Cheon’s arms.

“Guess that’s not happening.”

With a sigh, he slumped down onto the prison floor.

“What the hell’s going on? You, a terrorist mastermind?”

“I’m not.”

Kwon Cheon’s answer was firm. Cheol-su nodded.

“I know, you idiot. I know you're not that kind of guy.”

Kwon Cheon felt a lump in his throat. In this hopeless situation, someone’s unwavering belief in him—it was overwhelming.

“But the situation’s bad. Forget the terrorists’ testimony—the evidence left at their hideout all points to you.”

This wasn’t a hastily planned attack. It had been prepared over a long time. And so the incriminating evidence was abundant.

“The Chairman’s furious. He hasn’t ordered your execution yet, but…”

Cheol-su trailed off darkly. Kwon Cheon gave a faint smile.

“You can smile right now?”

“I can’t cry, can I?”

“…Damn it, you’re impossible.”

Cheol-su sighed heavily.

“But don’t give up hope just yet. The Chairman seems to be expanding the investigation team. He’s planning to look into this thoroughly.”

If that was true, there was still a chance to clear Kwon Cheon’s name.

After all, he was innocent.

“Maybe then they’ll clear your name. Anyway, I gotta go.”

Cheol-su stood to leave, then remembered something.

“Oh, right.”

“What?”

“You know that girl, Lee Da-hae? They brought her in as part of the investigation.”

That alone wouldn’t have been alarming.

But what came next changed everything.

“And the investigator interrogating her… it’s Kwon Hyuk.”

At that moment, Kwon Cheon’s face froze.

He remembered what Kwon Hyuk had said just before his arrest:

-“Don’t worry, Cheon. As long as you’re innocent, there’s nothing to worry about. By the way, what was the name of that maid you were keeping around? Lee Da-hae, was it? I hope nothing unfortunate happens to her. Rumor has it the Aeon mages are on the move.”

Kwon Cheon clenched his fists. In a short moment, he thought through countless possibilities.

And made a decision.

“Hyung, I need your help.”

“Huh? With what?”

“I need to break out.”

Cheol-su’s eyes went wide.

“Are you insane? Break out? If they catch you, you’re dead!”

“I know.”

“And you want me to help? What about my family? What about the Bae clan?!”

Cheol-su shouted, panicked. Rightfully so.

“Just stay put! The Chairman is cautious. He won’t act rashly. He’ll investigate first, and then—”

“Something might happen to Da-hae before then.”

“Forget her! There are a million women out there! You’re going to throw your life away for one girl?!”

“…Da-hae’s pregnant.”

Cheol-su fell silent. His eyes trembled.

“…What did you say? You’re lying, right?”

Kwon Cheon said nothing. That silence was answer enough.

Cheol-su grabbed the bars, yelling.

“You’re really insane! Letting yourself be ruined by some girl—one whose background you can’t even trace—!”

“You’re the only one who can help me.”

“Don’t give me that crap! Why the hell should I—”

Cheol-su ran a hand down his face and gritted his teeth.

“…Fuck. You owe me big for this.”

At that, Kwon Cheon gave a weak smile.

“Sorry.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]